January 26, 2005 OTTAWA – Rideau Hall's popular Winter Celebration is just around the corner! Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and His Excellency John Ralston Saul invite everyone to take part in fun winter activities for the whole family. The Winter Celebration will take place on Saturday, February 5, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The event marks the fourth consecutive year that Rideau Hall offers an afternoon of free outdoor winter fun in conjunction with Winterlude. Family activities will include sleigh rides, snowshoeing and skating on Canada's oldest outdoor skating rink. Enjoy Inuit cultural presentations and try out a section of the Norway / Keskinada Giant Ski. Visitors will also be able to warm up while exploring Rideau Hall. Guides will be available to answer questions in the residence's staterooms. Visitors will not want to miss seeing the new exhibition, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection at Rideau Hall. A new feature of the residence tour, this exhibition showcases 12 landscapes created by some of Canada's most renowned artists including A. Y. Jackson, Lawren S. Harris, Emily Carr, Janet Kigusiuq and others. ALL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE WEATHER-PERMITTING. A list of activities and details about parking arrangements is in the attached annex. Please consult our web site at www.gg.ca under the Visit Us section for more details on winter activities at Rideau Hall. -30- Rideau Hall Media Information Rideau Hall Press Office (613) 990-2997 Rideau Hall Public Information 1 866 991-ggca (4422) ANNEX – Winter Celebration Activities Skating: Lord Dufferin built the first skating rink at Rideau Hall in 1872. Glide to music on Rideau Hall's historic ice rink or try out a natural ice patch near the cricket pitch. Snowshoeing: Explore a snowshoeing course on the grounds of Rideau Hall. Snowshoes and an instructor will be available on-site. Sleigh rides: Sit back and enjoy a sleigh ride amidst the wooded areas of the grounds of the Governor General's residence. Inuit culture: Students from Nunavut will be on hand to share their culture and language with drumming, dancing and Inuit games. Snow park: Participate in fun and games in our winter playground. Tours: Take a break from the outdoor activities and tour the residence's historic State rooms. Parking: Free parking will be available at the National Research Council (100 Sussex Drive). A free shuttle service will be in operation from 12:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Limited parking for mobility-impaired guests is available on the grounds via Princess Avenue. NOTE: Media will also be permitted to park on the grounds via Princess Avenue. Rideau Hall gratefully acknowledges the contributions of our event media partners, the Ottawa Citizen and Le Droit About Winterlude: From spectacular ice carvings and giant snow sculptures, to the world's longest skating rink and the biggest snow playground on the continent, Winterlude is a great way to take in the best of our Canadian winter! For more information on Winterlude's 27th edition, from February 4-20, 2005, contact the National Capital Commission at (613) 239-5000 or 1 800 465-1864 or visit the National Capital Commission's website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca/winterlude. About the Norway/Keskinada Giant Ski: The Giant Ski Event, organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Keskinada Loppet, is a popular Ottawa winter tradition. This year, the Giant Ski has been extended to 100 metres in length to accommodate 100 people. The "Centennial Ski" honours Norway's 100th anniversary of independence from Sweden. On Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in Jacques Cartier Park, His Excellency Ingvard Havnen, Ambassador of Norway, will lead Centennial Ski Event participants to a new Guinness World Record for the most people to travel on a single pair of skis. For more information consult www.keskinada.com.
